Sunshade



March 18, 1952 w, J VAN GELDER r 2,589,647

SUNSHADE Filed Aug 16, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 i6 v 76 a W -76 if? 6 I I?! 0 its /7 IN V EN TOR. M/nwwa J. VAN 661.068 BY fineaaa I? Jim/av;

A TTOENEY Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUNSHADE Wynand J. van Golder, Los- Angeles, and Harold P. Stevens, Bellfiower, Calif.

This invention relates to sunshades, and more particularly to shades for outdoor use in connection with porches, pergolas, patios, gardens, and like out-of-door areas where it is desired to re ulate the amount of sunlight to be admitted.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shade which is adjustable to govern the proportions of sunlight and shadow in such situations as those mentioned above, and which has its operating mechanism so completely housed in the interior of the shade as to be protected from the weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shade for the purposes stated which constitutes a weather-tight housing for its own operating mechanism and eliminates the unsightly exposure of linkages, cables, shafts, counterbalances, and other mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shade having its operating parts so enclosed that they may be given one lubrication when assembled and will require no periodic lubrication during their lifetime.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shade which may be erected and will operate with equal satisfaction in vertical, horizontal, or oblique planes.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide a shade having panels rotatable between open and closed positions and so mounted and operated that they compensate for their own possible misalignment or the misalignment of other parts by a variable tolerance of mounting, and'receive a maximum of operating force when in positions at which the tolerance of mounting is at a minimum.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a shade having a variable force applicable to its operation, the force being at a maximum when the shade is in a. position offering the most resistance to further movement, so that a single source of power is adequate for the simultaneous operation of two or more shades.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will-be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of our invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as we may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of our invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective'of a shade constructed in accordance with the present invention, the panels being shown in their closed position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view-on an enlarged scale, the plane of section being indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1, with the direction of view as indicated, the panels and operating mechanism however, being shown in their medial or half-open position.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the driving mechanism for operating the panels as a group, the plane of'section being indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2, with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the operating mechanism for an individual panel, the plane of section being, indicated by the line 44 of Figure '2, with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view from above, showing in connected relation the groupdriving and individual-panel-driving mechanism, the plane of section being indicated by the line 55 of Figure 2, with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 6 is a detailed View in perspectiveof the group-panel-driving mechanism.

Specifically describing the embodiment of our invention herewith illustrated, our improved sunshade comprises frame members between which panels [2 are rotatably mounted. Each of the frame members II is of rectangular hollow cross sectional form and closed at its ends to enclose a housing chamber it. The panels I2 are secured to the squared ends [4 of stub shafts l5, hereinafter termed panel shafts, which extend into and across the housing chambers I3. being journalled in the side walls thereof and held against longitudinal movement by collars It. The panel shafts l5 support the panels I! at the axis of center of gravity of each panel, so that the panels may rotate easily. It may be noted here that the frame members [I may be disposed in any plane, from the horizontal to the vertical, and in the latter position they may themselves constitute the supporting columns for the sunshade. As illustrated herein, the frame members abut at their ends [1, which maybe called their driving ends, against a wall I8, but it will be understood that the ends [1 may equally well be supported on columns, as shown at l9, supporting the opposite ends of the frame members.

Adjacent the driving end ll of one of the frame members H is a supplemental housing 21 which encloses suitable primary driving mechanism.

As shown, this primary driving mechanism comprises bevel gears 22 of which the driving gear is turned by a shaft 23 to which a hand crank may be attached and the driven gear is mounted on the end of a worm 24. Any suitable means for driving the worm 24 may be substituted for those shown, and it will be hereinafter explained how the sunshade is particularly adapted to operation by a reversible motor controlled by contact switches. The worm 24 is journalled in the walls of the frame member I I with its axis in the plane to which all of the stub shafts l and the axes of rotation of panels [2 defined by the stub shafts are perpendicular. One journal of the worm 24 is enclosed by the supplemental housing 2| and the other journal thereof is preferably protected from the weather by a cap 25.

A nut 21 is threaded on the worm 24 and has stub pins or trunnions 28 extending oppositely therefrom. The panel shaft I5a nearest the worm 24 has a pair of crank levers 29 and 33 integral therewith, with parallel actuating arms 29a and 3011 on opposite sides of the nut 2'! and engaging the pins 28 by means of slots 33. The crank levers 29 and 30 also include actuated arms 29b and 3012, respectively, which are disposed at a wide angle to each other. As herein illustrated and best shown in Figures 2 and 6, clockwise rotation of the worm 24 (as viewed from the bevel gear end through which power is applied) causes the nut 21 to descend towards the bevel gears 22, and the pins 28 sliding in the slots 33 cause the crank levers 23 and 30 to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in 'Figures 2 and 6 and to similarly turn the panel shaft l5a with which they are integral.

Each of the panel shafts l5 distant from the worm 24 is provided with an integral bell crank 35, the two arms of which, 35a and 351), are disposed at the same angle as the actuated arms 29b and 30b of the crank levers 29 and 30.

Linkage bars 36 and 31, respectively, connect the arms 35a with the arm 29b, and the arms 3517 with the arm 3%, the connections being made pivotally by pins 38 set in the linkage bars. The arms 35a are thus held parallel to the arm 29b, and the arms 35b are parallel to the arm 30b, and rotation of the crank levers 29 and 30 in either clockwise or counterclockwise di- 1 rection causes rotation of the bell cranks 35 in like directions.

The panels l2 are preferably secured to the panel shafts I5 and l5a so that their fiat surfaces are parallel to the arms 35a and 29b,

although other angular relations may be chosen.

The panels are of such width that adjacent panels overlap each other when in the closed position, and to secure a close fit and a relatively smooth combined surface in the closed position, the overlapping margins of the panels are made thin, as shown at 4| in Figure 2. Counterclockwise rotation of the crank levers 29 and 33 and the bell cranks 35 from the position shown in Figure 2 will cause the panels l2 to close one upon another, and clockwise rotation of the levers and cranks will cause the panels to open further from the medial position in which they are illustrated. It will be seen that movement in either clockwise or counter-clockwise direction will cause the linkage bars 33 and 3! to approach the axis of centers of rotation defined by the panel shafts l5 and [5a, as well as to move longitudinally. To permit a wide angular move- -ment in either direction, the linkage bars 35 and 31 are provided with notches 42 adjacent each of the panel shafts l5. Clockwise movement of the crank mechanism will cause the panel shafts l5 to seat in the notches 42 in the linkage bar 31, and counter-clockwise movement of the crank mechanism will cause the panel shafts to enter the notches 42 in the linkage bar 36, actual stoppage in the latter case being brought about by contact of adjacent panels as they close.

In order to permit the linkage and crank mechanism to operate freely, the crank arms 35a and 3512 are provided with slots 44 to receive the pins 38. The slots 44 extend longitudinally of their respective arms and consequently allow a minimum of clearance for the pins 38 when their respective arms are at right angles to the linkage bars 36 and 31, and a maximum of clearance when their respective arms are parallel to the linkage bars. As the linkage bars 33 and 31 move through arcs approaching and departing from the axis of centers of rotation of the panels l2 while maintaining parallelism to each other, the rotative force resultant fromsaid arcuate movement and imparted by one of the linkage bars to the bell cranks 35, will increase and the rotative force imparted by the other of the'linkage bars will decrease. The maximum rotative force so imparted will coincide with the minimum clearance or tolerance of the pins 33 in the slots 44, and the rotative force will approach zero as the clearance of the pins in the slots approaches a maximum.

To close the panels from the position in which they are shown in Figure 2, the shaft 23 is turned so as to rotate the worm 24 in a direction to cause the nut 21 to ascend on the worm. As the nut 21 ascends, it causes the crank levers 29 and 30 to rotate (in a counter-wise direction as illustrated). The rotation so caused diminishes in speed as the stub pins 28 slide toward the distal ends of the slots 33, but because of increased leverage about the shaft I5a as a center of rotation, there is little loss of applicable force. The arm 2% pushes the linkage bar 36 towards the left and downwards, so that the panel shafts l5 eventually enter the notches 42 in the linkage bar 33. The arm 30b pulls the linkage bar 31 towards the right, at first downwardly and then upwardly. There are no slots in the arms 2% and 361) corresponding to the slots 44 in the arms 35a and 35b, and the movement of the linkage bars therefore is in accord with the movements of the actuating arms 2% and 33b. It will be seen, however, that the arm 2% pushes the linkage bar 36 longitudinally at 'a decreasing rate of speed as the arm approaches a horizontal position, whereas the arm 33b will be.

pulling the linkage bar 31 longitudinally at a nearly constant speed approaching a maximum as the arm passes the vertical.

The advantage of the two linkage bars and of the slots 44 in the arms of the bell cranks 35 will now be apparent. One or the other of the linkage bars is always in position to exert a maximum of rotative force upon the bell cranks 35; there is no dead center position. The linkage bar in the better position to exert rotative force upon the bell cranks is travelling faster in a longitudinal direction than the other linkage bar and is doing the work. In the example just given, the faster, or working linkage bar is the lower bar 31. The arms 35b are passing through the same phase of movement as the arm 3%, with maximum application of rotative force and with minimum tolerance in the slots 44. The application 'provide increasing tolerance during this phase and therefore prevent the idle linkage barifi from hindering or binding the working linkage bar 31.

The tolerance provided by the slots 44 permits the use of relatively roughly machined and assembled operating mechanism, which isa desirable factor in a sunshade for out-of -door use andeffects a considerable economy in manufacturing costs. Except for the tolerance of the slots, either the mechanism would have to be exactly aligned and fitted, or the advantages .of

the double linkage bar drive would'have to be foregone.

Another advantage of the double linkage bars and of the slots 44 becomes apparent when consideration is given to force applied at the other end of the chain of linkage, as by wind pressure upon the panels l2. If the shutters are closed, the arms 35a. are approximately horizontal. Wind pressure tending to open the shutters will attempt to so rotate the bell cranks 35 as to cause the arms 35a to press upwardly on the pins 38. There is, in this position, a minimum of tolerance in the slots 44 to permit any relative vertical movement of the pins 38 and the arms 3-50.. To lift the linkage bar 36 as a unit would require rotating the panel shaft l5a and its levers 29-and 30. The position of the stub pins 28 at the distal ends of the slots 33 is such as to afford the greatest resistance to rotation induced by wind pressure. The hitherto idle linkage bar 36 thus becomes a very effective lock to prevent rattling of the panels, with the pins 38 in the slots 44 and the pins 28 in the slots 33 in effect wedging the panels shut.

The operation of the actuating and linkage mechanism in the step of opening the panels I2 will be apparent from the above description of the step of closing them. The roles of the linkage bars 36 and 31 as working or idle bars transpose as their associated crank arms move from one phase of their cycles to another, and at the full open position of the panels I2, it is the linkage bar 31 which has been idle and which becomes the wedged lock to prevent fluttering of the panels.

The change in speed of rotation of the crank levers 29 and 39 as the nut 2! travels from its mid point on the worm 24 towards either end of the worm has several advantages. The drop in the speed of rotation of the crank levers may be as much as sixty percent of the maximum speed. This slowing do n is not only good insurance against mishandling and abuse, but it makes possible the o eration of the sunshade b a reversible motor instead of by a hand crank. The low rates of rotation of the mechanism as the panels approach either their closed or their full open posit ons ma es the installation and operation of suitable limit switches to stop the motor a simple matter. A reversing switch to control the direction of rotation is the only manually operated control that is necessary, as the slow movement of the panels at either end of their travel can be accurately checked by a limit switch.

While in the above description we have re ferred to movement to the right and the left, and up and down, it will be understood that such directions are only in relation to the embodiment illustrated and that the sunshade may be operated in other planes; When'arranged- 'to operate in a vertical plane, the hollow frame members H may support the sunshade. Inany position they can be so capped as to be substantially weather-tight, and their internal working parts may be lubricated when being assembled and will require no further lubrication or care. Not only do they preserve a neat and pleasing appearance of the sunshade, concealing all mechanical parts except the operating crank, but they enhance the quietness of operation, insulating and deadening the sounds of moving gears and linkage.

Because of the efficiency of the driving mechanism, two banks of panels may be easily operated from a simple operating mechanism housing in a centrally disposed frame member I I. The panel shafts l5 and Ida are, in this event, simply extended to have square ends I4 protruding from both sides of the central frame member I I and supporting panels on both sides thereof. It will be understood that the distal ends of the panels are likewise supported on panel shafts rotating freely in frame members which may have the same general outward appearance but which contain no operating mechanism.

We claim:

1. A s nshade of the class described, comprising a hollow frame member; a plurality of panels each having a shaft journalled in said frame member and being secured to said shaft, said panels so everlapping as to form in different positions of rotation a closed substantially flat structure and an open structure; a pairof angulated crank arms secured to each of said shafts within said frame member, the arms of each pair being disposed at the same relative angle as the arms of each other pair, and all of said pairs being disposed in the same phase relation to said panels; a worm in said frame member; means for rotating said Worm; a nut on said worm; pins extending laterally from said nut; lever arms secured to that one of said shafts proximal to said worm, and having slots within which said pins are slidably engaged, a pair of linkage bars each connecting those crank arms having like phase relation; crank pins on said linkage bars for pivotally engaging said connected crank arms; those crank arms secured to shafts other than said one shaft having longitudinal slots in which said crank pins may slide.

2. A sunshade of the class described, comprising a hollow frame member, a plurality of panels each having a shaft journalled in said frame member and being secured to said shaft so as to be rotated therewith, said panels in one position of rotation forming a closed substantially flat structure and in another position an open structure, a pair of angulatecl crank arms secured to each of said shafts within said frame member, all of said pairs having like angularity of arms and like phase relationship to said panels, a pair of linkage bars each pivotally connected to one arm of each of said pairs so as to maintain said panels parallel in all possible positions of rotation, and driving means for rotating one of said shafts, said bars having slot-and-pin connections to the arms respective to the shafts other than said one shaft.

3. A sunshade of the class described, comprising an elongated hollow frame member having parallel side walls, a plurality of panels, shafts respective to each of said panels and rigidly secured thereto and extending into and transversely of said frame member and journalled in said side walls for rotation about axes at right angles to said frame member, said panels in one position of rotation forming a closed structure and in another position an open structure, a pair of crank arms on each of said shafts within said frame members so disposed relative to said panels that one arm of each pair is substantially parallel to the axis of said frame member when said panels are in said closed-structure position and the other arm is substantially parallel to said axis when said panels are in said open-structure position, driving means for rotating one of said shafts between said two positions, and means connecting the arms respective to said one shaft to the arms of each of the other shafts for rotating said other shafts in phase unison with said one shaft.

4. A sunshade of the class described, comprising a frame member, a plurality of panels rotatively sup orted by said frame member and arranged to overlap to form a closed structure, a shaft on the end of each of said panels journalled in said frame member, a first crank arm on each of said shafts disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the panel respective thereto, a second crank arm on each of said shafts disposed at an angle to said first crank arm, means for imparting limited rotative movement to one of said shafts, and a pair of linkage bars connecting respectively said first and said second crank arms of all of saidshafts for imparting-rotative force from said one shaft to the other shafts, each of said bars having a loose connecting fit with the crank arms respective to said other shafts arranged to permit a minimum of free movement when said imparted rotative force is at a maximum and a maximum of free movement when said imparted rotative force is at a minimum.

5. A sunshade of the class described, comprising a frame member, a plurality of panels rotatably supported by said frame member, dual means interconnecting said panels for imparting like rotative movement thereto, a worm, a nut on said worm arranged to move axially along said worm when said worm is rotated, and a lever arm connected with one of said panels for causing rotation thereof and slidingly engaging said nut so as to be arcuately oscillated in response to movement of said nut along said worm and having a mean oscillatory position midway of such movement, whereby the speed of arcuate movement of said lever arm is reduced as said nut approaches either end of said movement.

WYNAND J. VAN GELDER. HAROLD P. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 182,075 Jaqua -4.-- Sept. 12, 1876 1,563,450 Snow Dec. 1, 1925 2,199,562 Grifiin May 7, 1940 

